Wednesday, October 8, 2014

craft beer market and stanley park brewing

the new team at stanley park brewing hosted me at their recent brewmaster's dinner at craft beer market

the food was delicious
and their new beers were pretty tasty

moules & frites with wit

i was most taken with the windstorm pale ale
chock full of mosaic hops, this one is a departure from the rest of the belgian inspired line-up
and one that i would drink again
the winter ale was also quite nice - cherry and chocolate, with none of my despised vanilla to ruin it

black forest inspired dessert

the new team is well aware that stanley park is not beloved by beer nerds
and they're okay with that
they are right where they want to be in the market
and you gotta respect that

thanks so much stanley park brewing for hosting me
and for drawing my name for this awesome gift basket!!

Vancouver, BC – Fall has arrived. Add a scarf, wax your ‘stache, and grab an umbrella for good measure; it is the West Coast after all. You hit the streets ready to feel the gusts of crisp autumn air and the crunch of leaves at your feet. Little did you know, you’d be blown away by the #unexpected. #Windstorm is here.

We were in for more than just a few gusts one fateful day in late December 2006, when a fierce 120km/hr windstorm tore a path through Stanley Park, levelling over 10,000 trees across 40 hectares of forest and causing extensive damage to the seawall. In the wake of the storm volunteers of all ages came out to plant seedlings, while businesses and government rallied to support restoration efforts. A community stood united, together rebuilding and ensuring the legacy of a stronger, more resilient forest for future generations to enjoy.

To commemorate this #unexpected moment, Stanley Park Brewing is shaking up their fall portfolio with the introduction of Windstorm West Coast Pale Ale. Their first new beer since summer 2013, is also their first release from new Brewmaster Todd Fowler. “The storm was our inspiration to do something unexpected. Featuring the uniquely aromatic mosaic hop as our signature ingredient, our West Coast Pale Ale delivers the perfect storm of tropical fruit and earthy pine hop character and a rewarding bitterness that finishes clean,” says Fowler. Stir things up by pairing this pale ale with a spicy Thai curry dish or flavourful citrus salad for something #unexpected. Windstorm blows in at 5.7% ABV and 35 IBUs.

As a part of our commitment to the enduring legacy of the World’s Best Park, 25cents from every can and pint of Windstorm sold will benefit the Stanley Park Ecology Society. “This initiative is emblematic of our strong partnership with the Ecology Society and shared commitment to nature in the city,“ says Jim Lister, General Manager of Stanley Park Brewing.

“Windstorms are a natural and important force in the renewal of biodiversity in our forests. Although the 2006 storm hit particularly hard, it blew in many great benefits including a community united for restoration efforts. Today, we continue our habitat enhancement work through the generous financial and volunteer commitments of partners like Stanley Park Brewery,” explains Patricia Thomson, Executive Director of the Stanley Park Ecology Society. “We are very proud to have such kindred collaboration from the Stanley Park Brewery team. We toast the positive contributions of Windstorm!”

The Stanley Park Brewing legacy dates back to 1897 when our namesake brewery was established in Stanley Park. In 2009, we introduced a new generation of beer drinkers to this brewing legacy with the launch of Stanley Park 1897 Amber. Today, our beer portfolio offers our interpretation of some of the world’s great beer styles which, like the Park itself, enables connections with friends, family and the world around us. We embrace a progressive, eco-driven brewing process, that in turn gives our customers the choice to make a difference when selecting their beer. Stanley Park Brewery products are available for sale in BC retail stores and in many of your favourite pubs and restaurants. For more information and where to buy, visit www.stanleyparkbrewery.ca.

About Turning Point Brewing

Opened in 2008, Turning Point Brewing Co. is 100% family owned and on a journey towards sustainable brewing. The on-site wind turbine is a working symbol of our effort, and this spirit comes to life in our flagship Stanley Park brand. Inside the brewery, we implement initiatives such as harnessing wind power and reducing water usage, while our talented brewers focus on bringing world class beers to BC beer drinkers. Turning Point Brewing Company is a proud member of the BC Craft Brewers Guild.

About Stanley Park Ecology Society

The Stanley Park Ecology Society is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1988 that promotes awareness and respect for the natural environment of Stanley Park through collaborative initiatives in education, research and conservation. To learn more about their work, visit www.stanleyparkecology.ca

About Me

i didn't always love beer - there was a time in the distant past where i just didn't have a taste for it. fortunately my taste buds changed and my love affair with beer began. slowly at first, eventually blowing itself up into my current obsession with all things beer. i enjoy drinking beer, but i also enjoy reading about beer, talking about beer, thinking about beer and one day soon will actually brew something worth bragging about. my overwhelming beer obsession is hops - love them, can't get enough of them, grow them! you can hear me wax poetic about beer every second tuesday at 5:50 p.m. on cbc radio one's on the coast with stephen quinn (88.1 fm in vancouver and 690 am).